February 21 brought gusty winds that acted like a natural air purifier for NCR, slashing AQI in key areas of Delhi, Noida, and Ghaziabad. Polluted skies parted, offering residents a much-needed break from the winter smog that chokes the region annually.
Still, vigilance is key—majority sites linger in moderate-to-poor brackets. Ghaziabad’s UPPCB logs: Sanjay Nagar best at 181, Indirapuram 232, Vasundhara 233, Loni worst at 268. Noida’s sectors showed Sector-62 shining at 164 (moderate), Sector-116 194, Sector-125 199, Sector-1 213.
Delhi stations varied widely: Aya Nagar aced with 138, CRRI Mathura Road 161, Alipur 189, DTU 189, Burari 195, Dr. Karni Singh 211, Bawana 219, Ashok Vihar 224, Anand Vihar 244, Chandni Chowk 246. The old city’s bustle clearly traps more filth.
IMD forecasts consistent temps—29/13°C through February 22, up to 30/14°C on 23rd—with hazy conditions but no warnings. Strong breezes dispersed PM particles, boosting AQI. Expect crisp starts and ends to days with midday warmth. Specialists caution: stagnant air could spike pollution anew, reminding us NCR’s battle against smog is far from won.